Garment cleaning device



May 7, 1957 M. H. GlLPlN 2,790,984

GARMENT CLEANING DEVICE Filed Aug. 51, 1955 .3 I f 0 I 43 WI I -43 34 "1* v19 2 ";5:-- 0 1 17 17' *7 2d 2 f fi m I I 33 12 25 24 1 1 F I a 3 JNVENTOR. ARY H G/LP/N 7-1-02 NE Y United States Patent 2,790,984 GARMENT CLEANING-DEVICE Mary H. Gilpin, Washington, D. C.

Application August 31, 1953, Serial No. 377,650

Claims. c1. -140.

This invention relates to garment cleaning devices, and more particularly to a combination cleaning liquid container and applicator.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved garment cleaning device suitable for carrying in a pocket or in a ladys' handbag, or the like, said'device being simple in construction, beingneat in appearance, being easy to use, and providing a rapid and conveniently available means for removing spots and stains from garments.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved garment cleaning unit which may be'readily used for removing spots and stains from the users garments, said unit being inexpensive to manufacture, being compact in size, whereby it may be readily carried in the users pocket or purse, being leak-proof, and being easy to refill when the supply of cleaning liquid thereof is expended.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational View of a garment cleaning apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken axially through the garment cleaning apparatus shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view, similar to Figure 2 but showing the valve element of the device opened by engagement of the pad element therewith, whereby said pad element may be soaked with cleaning liquid.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view similar to Figure 3 but showing a modified form of valve structure which may be employed inthe garment cleaning device, in accordance with the present invention. 7

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional detail view taken on line 55 of Figure 4.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to- Figures 1 to 3, the garment cleaning unit is designated generally at 11. Said unit comprises a generally cylindrical casing 12 having an end wall 13, said end wall being formed with an internally threaded, inwardly directed central conduit element 14 in which is engaged the flanged cover screw 15, said screw 15 being provided with the transverse screw driver slot 16, whereby the screw 15 may be rotated by a screw driver, a coin, or other implement, to remove the screw when the supply of cleaning liquid is to be replenished. v

Secured in the intermediate portion'of the casing 12 is the annular partition wall 17, said wall 17 being provided with the cylindrical central neck portion 18 which terminates in the upwardly flaring, conical spout member 19, said spout member having the annular rim flange 28. Designated at 21 is a movable valve element, said valve element having the'hollow stem portion 22 arranged loosely in the neck 18 and projecting axially throughthe spout member 19. The valve'memb'er 21 is provided 'ice with the enlarged annular bottom skirt member 23 in which is seated the top end of the valve spring 24. The lower end of said valve spring engages around the conduit element 14 and is preferably secured in any suitable manner to said conduit, whereby the spring 24 is held in an axially centered position in casing 12. Secured on the skirt member 23 at the base of stem 22 is a sealing washer 25 of resilient deformable material, such as rubber, Neoprene, or the like. The bottom surface of parti tion element 17 is formed with a depending annular sealing rib 26 arranged concentrically with neck 18 and being sealingly cooperable with washer 25, under the force of spring 24, to normally seal the aperture defined by neck 18 and to prevent the flow of cleaning liquid, shown at 27, through said neck.

As shown in Figure 2, the hollow stem 22 has the rounded top end 28 which normally projects upwardly a substantial distance beyond the plane of the rim flange 20.

The upper portion of casing 12 is formed with internal threads 29. Designated at 30 is a cover plug which has an intermediate, externally threaded body 31 threadedly engaging with the screw threads 29. At its top end, cover plug 30 is provided with the enlarged, knurled gripping portion 32. The lower end of the cover plug is reduced in diameter, as shown at 33, as by being crimped inwardly, and has secured therein the absorbent pad 34, of felt or the like, which extends below the inwardly crimped member 33.

The threaded body 31 may be provided with index marks 35 which will be normally completely exposed when the device is in the position illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, indicating that the valve element 21 is in sealing position. By rotating the cover plug 30 to advance the threaded body into the casing 12, the pad 34 may be moved downwardly, as viewed in Figure 2, to engage the rounded top 28 of valve stem 22 and to depress the valve element 21 to the position thereof shown in Figure 3, wherein the marginal portion of the pad 34 engages the rim flange 20 to prevent free flow of liquid outwardly between said rim flange and said marginal portion ofthe pad when the valve is open, and wherein the valve is held in open position. By now inverting the unit, the clean ing liquid is caused to flow into the well or spout 19, whereby the pad 34 may be soaked with cleaning liquid. After said pad is suificiently soaked with liquid, the unit is returned to upright position and the cover plug 30 is unthreaded from casing 12. Valve 22 closes as the pad 34 is retracted therefrom. The cover plug 39 may then be employed as an applicator to apply the saturated pad 34 to the stain or spot to be removed.

After the garment has been cleaned, the cover plug 30 is i e-engaged with the casing 12 and is returned to the position thereof shown in Figures 1 and 2, namely, to a position wherein the index marks 35 are just fully visible.

Referring now to Figures 4 and 5, the partition member may comprise an annular, downwardly dished element 17 secured in the casing 12 to define a liquid reservoir therebeneath and having the depending central cylindrical neck 18' terminating in the horizontal, annular flange 4i). Flange 40 is formed with the depending annular corrugation 26' which is sealingly cooperable with the resilient deformable washer 25 secured on the skirt member 23. The valve stem, shown at 22', slidably engages in the neck 18' and is formed with a plurality of vertical grooves or flutes 41 through which the cleaning liquid may pass when the valve is in its open position, shown in Figure 4.

As shown in Figure 4, the dished annular partition member 17 has the conical central portion 42 defining a chamber of substantial value wherein liquid may collect when the unit is inverted, for soaking the pad 34. As

9 u) in the first-described form of the invention, the rounded top end of the valve stem 22 normally projects a substantial distance above the fiat annular body portion 43 of partition member 17'. When the cover plug 30 is screwed inwardly from its normal positiomthe pad 34 moves the valve stem downwardly, opening the valve. When the peripheral portion of the pad is engaged on the flat annular body portion 43 of the downwardly dished partition member 17, as shownin Figure 4, preventing free flow of the liquid outwardly between said flat annular body portion 43 and the peripheral portion of the pad when the valve is open, the unit may be inverted to allow cleaning liquid to collect in chamber 42 and soak the pad. The unit may then be restored to upright position and the cover plug may be detached from casing 12 to apply the saturated pad to the spot or stain to be removed. After use, the plug may be reengaged with the casing and returned to its normal position.

It will be readily apparent that the devices above described may be carried in the users pocket or purse and n will be readily available for use whenever it is desired to remove a spot or stain from a garment. The liquid reservoir is kept sealed at all times by the closure of the valve element under the force of its biasing spring 24,

whereby leakage of the liquid is prevented. By following the procedure above described, the applicator pad 34 may be saturated with cleaning liquid without requiring the applicator plug to be first removed from the casing, and without risk of spilling excessive quantities of liquid,

since the valve element closes almost immediately when tion, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A garment cleaning device comprising a casing for cleaning liquid, said casing having a bottom wall and a partition wall, defining a reservoir for liquid in the lower portion of the casing, said partition wall being formed with an aperture, a valve member disposed in said aperture, said valve member havingv a bottom sealing element below said partition wall and having a stern element projecting upwardly through said aperture and above said partition wall, spring means biasing said sealing element upwardly into sealing engagement with said partition wall, a closure. member detachably engaged with said casing above the partition wall and being movable axially in said casing, an absorbent applicator pad secured to said closure member, the innerportion of said applicator pad being engageable with said stem element to open said valve member responsive to movement of the closure member downwardly beyond. a predetermined position thereof relative to said partition wall, and means on said partition wall engageable with the outer peripheral portion of said applicator pad to prevent free flow of liquid outwardly between the partition wall and said outer peripheral portion of the pad when said valve member is opened, said partition wall being formed and arranged to define a liquid chamber of substantial volume, having said pad as a wall, inwardly of the engaged peripheral portion of the pad.

2. A garment cleaning device comprising a casing, said casing having a bottom Wall and having a partition wall secured in the intermediate portion thereof, said partition wall being formed with a central aperture, a valve member disposed in said aperture, said valve member having an enlarged annular bottom sealing element below said partition Wall and having a stem element projecting upwardly through said aperture and above said partition wall, spring means in the lower portion of the casing member downwardly beyond a predetermined position thereof relative to said partition wall, and means on said partition wall engageable with the outer peripheral portion of said applicator pad to prevent free flow of liquid outwardly between the partition wall and said outer pe ripheral portion of the pad when said valve member is opened, said partition wall being formed and arranged to define a liquid chamber of substantial volume, having said pad as a wall, inwardly of the engaged peripheral portion of the pad.

3. A garment cleaning device comprising a casing, said casing having a bottom wall and having a partition wall secured in the intermediate portion thereof, defining a reservoir for cleaning liquid in the lower portion of the casing, said partition wall being formed with a central aperture, a valve member movably disposed in said aperture, said valve member having an enlarged annular bottom. sealing element. below said partition wall and having a stem. element projecting upwardly through said [aperture and above said partition wall, spring means in the lower portion of the casing engaged between the bottom wall of the casing and said valve member, biasing said sealing element upwardly into sealing engagement with said partition wall, a closure member thread edly engaged in said casing above the partition wall, an absorbent applicator pad secured to the bottom end of said closure member, the inner portion of said applicator pad being engageable with said stern element to open said valve member responsive to movement 01': the closure member downwardly beyond a predetermined position thereof relative to said partition wall, and means on said partition Wall engageable, with the outer peripheral portion of said applicator pad to prevent free flow of liquid outwardly between the partition wall and said outer periphcral portion of the pad when said valve member is opened, said partition wall being formed and arranged to define a liquid chamber of substantial volume, having said pad as a wall, inwardly of the engaged peripheral portion of the pad.

4. A garment cleaning device comprising a casing, said casing having a bottom wall and having a partition wall secured in, the intermediate portion thereof, defining a reservoir for cleaning liquid in the lower portion of the casing, said partition wall being formed with a central aperture, a valve member disposed in said apeflure, said valve member having an enlarged annular bottom sealing element below said partition wall and having a stem element projecting upwardly through said aperture and above said partition wall, said stem element having a smoothly rounded top end, spring means in the lower portion of the casing engaged between the bottom wall of the casing and said valve member, biasing said sealing element upwardlyinto sealing engagement with said partition wall, a closure member threadedly engaged in said casing above the partition wall, an absorbent applicator pad secured to the bottom end of said closure member, the inner portion of said applicator pad being engageable with the rounded top end of said stern element to open said valve member responsive to movement of the closure member downwardly beyond a predetermined position thereof relative to said partition wall, andmeans on said partition wall engageable with the outer peripheral portion of saidapplicator pad to' prevent free flow of liquid outwardly between the partition Wall and said outer peripheral portion of the;pad when said. valve member is opened, said partition wall being formed and arranged to define a liquid chamber of substantial volume, having said pad as a wall, inwardly of the engaged peripheral portion of the pad.

5. A garment cleaning device comprising a substantially cylindrical casing having a bottom wall and adapted to contain a quantity of cleaning liquid in its lower portion, a partition wall secured in the intermediate portion of said casing, said partition vvall being formed with an axially extending central annular neck element defining a central aperture through the partition wall, a valve member having a stem portion movably disposed in said neck element and having an enlarged annular bottom sealing element sealingly engageable beneath said neck element, said stem portion having a rounded top end extending a substantial distance above the neck element when said sealing element se-alingly engages beneath said neck element, spring means in the lower portion of the casing hearing between the bottom wall of the casing and said valve member and biasing said sealing element upwardly toward sealing position, a closure element threadedly engaged in the upper portion of the casing, an absorbent applicator pad secured to the lower end of said closure element, the inner portion of said applicator pad being engageable with said top end of the stem portion to depress said stem portion and open the valve member responsive to movement of the closure element downwardly beyond a predetermined position thereof relative to said partition Wall, and means on said partition :wall engageable with the outer peripheral portion of said applicator pad to prevent free flow of liquid outwardly between the partition wall and said outer peripheral portion of the pad 'when said valve member is opened, said partition Wall being formed and arranged to define a liquid chamber of substantial volume, having said pad as :a vvall, inwardly of the engaged peripheral portion of the pad.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 475,151 Pomeroy May 17, 1892 616,990 Tallmadge Ian. 13, 1899 1,475,825 Hetu Nov. 27, 1923 1,534,259 Dempsey Apr. 21, 1925 

